Uncovering the Wonders of Nature in Cow Bay Nova Scotia

Caterpillar Momentum

Some days just seem to crawl along don’t they? So little progress is made towards our intended destination that it’s difficult to stay motivated and enthusiastic about the task set before us. Take heart. The caterpillars are here to shed some light on a situation that befalls us all at times.

The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Though we’re already well into the fall season, caterpillars can still be seen roaming the trails. They seem more determined than usual as they motor along. Yet compared to us humans, their speed is still painfully slow. Don’t they get discouraged? How do they keep their sense of direction intact while crossing such wide expanses?

Don’t they ever second-guess their goals as they plod along, and wonder if it’s all worth the tremendous effort?

Sometimes thinking too much can destroy your momentum.
~ Tom Watson

No, I don’t think they dwell on the length of the journey or sink into spirals of despair at their slow progress. They know deep inside that they’re called to a higher purpose. Their butterfly heart tells them this with each small step they take.

They trust that there will be time enough to fly at the speed of light later. For now, their focus is on the next step, however small it may be.

25 Responses

I can read your thoughtful text and appropriate, pithy quotations, Amy-Lynn.I’ll have to wait until I’m near a high-speed signal to see all the images, but how can I be impatient after reading this post? Thank you for the reminder!

Sybil, the caterpillars are thankful to you for saving so many of their lives along the trails. You probably have a very special place in their butterfly hearts for the way you pick them up and place them on the wayside to avoid being trodden upon.

We have a long rectangular rock in are yard that stands straight up and is marked like a ruler. One day we watched with amusement as a caterpillar took the long climb up, only to have to come back down the otherside.

Amy-Lynn, they’re lovely! I really got what you said, especially with all our plans at the moment. I will remember to just keep going and not worry about the pace. Soon I will be able to fly!! Thank you for that xx

pattisj, its light yellow color makes it seem like it belongs more to the summer than the fall. However, there were several of them flitting about that day. It’s a sulphur, a type of butterfly that’s frequently found in very cold climates.